LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 184

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184 SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

B. Special Assignments

In addition to the ongoing assignments in the commis-
sion’s terms of reference, both the Denver and Milwaukee
conventions gave special assignments to the commission. We
herewith report on these.

1. Review of Synod’s Constitution in the Light of the Mission
Affirmations

The commission was given this assignment by the Denver
convention and made a progress report to the Milwaukee
convention. Further discussions have been held with the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the Com-
mission on Constitutional Matters. Our final report on this
assignment is appended to this report with appropriate rec-
ommendations to the convention.

2. The Role of Women in Church and Society

This assignment was given to the commission at the Den-
ver convention. The commission produced a short statement
embodying Affirmations on Women in Mission. The Mil-

nium. A panel presentation was made to the commission.
In a subsequent meeting the commission was joined by 18
Women from various walks of life. A paper on “The Gospel
of Baptism” was presented. The C
then “workshopped” the problem in small discussion groups.
The results of our study and our recommendations to this
convention are given separately.

3. Selective Fellowship

The Milwaukee convention asked the commission to study
this matter through Res. 3-11:

WHEREAS, There is a continued concern in the matter of se-
lective fellowship; therefore be it

Resolved, That in the interim we reaffirm Resolution 3-18 of
the Denver convention regarding selective fellowship. (1969
Proceedings, p. 101)

Dr. John Johnson served as study coordinator for this
assignment. Consultations have been held with the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations. The following
theses and guidelines were adopted by this Commission.

THESES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
FOR ACTION RE
SELECTIVE FELLOWSHIP

Word of God which alone should be and remain the only stan-
dard and rule of doctrine, to which the writings of no man
should be regarded as equal, but to which everything should be
sudjected" (F. C., Th.D., C. S$, 9. “The Confessions, not be-
cause they were composed by our theologians but because they
have been taken from God's Word and founded firmly and well
therein" (5.10). “The Confessions are introduced as a witness
of the truth” (13. 4). They are, furthermore, a praise and con-
fession of the grace of God, the exposition and summary of
Holy Scripture whose heart they understand to be the Holy
Gospel. Lutherans look to the Scriptures and to the Confessions
to determine the question of selective fellowship,

1. The church is the congregation of all believers in Jesus
Christ. This church actually exists, made up of true believers
and righteous men scattered throughout the world. The Gospel
and faith in Christ are constitutive of the Church. (Cf. A. C.
VII—VIII; Eph. 4:4-5)

2. In order to create and preserve faith the Ministry of
Word and Sacraments has been ordained by God. The church
believes the Gospel; and the Gospel is defined, Strictly speaking,
as precisely, “a ccnfronting and joyful message which does not

3. Within the church are the churches. Those who “preside
Over the churches are to preach the Gospel, remit sins, and ad-
minister the sacraments.” When the bishops refuse ordination,
“the churches retain the right to ordain for themselves. Wher-
ever the church exists, the right to administer the Gospel also

exists.’ The churches are the Christian community in which we
obtain full forgiveness of sins through the word and through
signs appointed to comfort, to wit. the Sacraments. (Power and
Primacy of the Pope; A. C. XXVIIL

4. The principle of unity among the churches is “that the
Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of
it.” Ceremonies need not be uniform: but the Gospel must be
proclaimed: the divine doctrine understood in an active and
dynamic sense of public Preaching and teaching. True unity
among the churches is destroyed by anything which vitiates the
Holy Gospel. (A, Cc. VII)

5. The Gospel (doctrina) is defined and understood within
the context of the A. . The Gospel is the good news of the
grace of God in Christ. The various articles of the A. C. relate
to this Gospel. Commitment to the pure understanding and
preaching of the Gospel calls for fidelity in all matters that are
either a part of the Gospel. necessary background for the Gospel,
or a necessary consequence of the Gospel.

6. Lutherans seeking external unity are to be guided by these
principles. All articles of faith taught in the church are to be
rested to see whether they serve the pure preaching of the Gos-
pel,

7. This principle calls for more than a correct statement in
an official confession, The Gospel must actually be proclaimed
in the pulpits and taught in the churches. Occasional aberrations
do not destroy unity; they must be dealt with.

8. When such a genuine consensus has been achieved, Lu-
theran bodies not only may but should enter into pulpit and altar
fellowship. Churches which recognize their unity of faith must

9. The churches must in love apply to themselves a correc-
tion of errors when such arise, and concern themselves with the
cleansing of any practices that endanger the purity of the
Gospel.

Guiding Principles for Action:

1. Unity in the church is given by the Holy Spirit. There is
one body, one calling, one Spirit, etc., Eph. 4. All Christians are
in agreement on the doctrine of the Gospel (Omnes Christiani de
evangelio consentiunt),

2. This unity must be reflected in the churches, in the bodies
of churches (synods, etc.) formed according to human dicta.

3. According to the confessional principle to which we are
committed, unity exists among the churches who confess and

tween bodies is not declared, selective fellowship ought to be
permitted (in accordance with the stated principles). The Com-
mission on Mission and Ministry in the Church hopes that the
Synod will recognize this and by resolution indicate its approval
of such congregational action. In accordance with Res. 3-1] of
Milwaukee the Cornamission on Mission and Ministry in the
Church also shares these theses and guiding principles with the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the Com-
mission on Constitutional Matters for their discussion and action.

4. Evangelism Today

Since the year of this convention is also the year of
“Key 73” and the Synod’s emphasis on evangelism in its
125th anniversary celebration, the commission heard presen-
tations by Pastor Walter Meyer on “Venture into Commu-
nity” and Pastor Erwin Kolb on “Evangelism Today.”

III. New Studies

In its ongoing study program the commission becomes
aware of certain problems which need investigation. We
mention here a few on which some work has been done.

1. The Nature and Theology of Change.

2. Concept of Authority and Exercise of Power in the
Church.

3. Freedom and Styles of Life in the Church.
4. Relation of Church to Culture.

5. Role of Forms and Institutions in Personal and Cor-
porate Life of Christians.

The Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church
was established in 1965 in order to evaluate past procedures
and consider new strategies as the church seeks to fulfill its
mission effectively. New assignments have been given to
the commission in the 1967, 1969, and 1971 synodical con-
ventions.